The Momentum Flow

What happens when AI collides with real-world operations?In this episode of The Momentum Flow, I sit down with Rick McDonald, former Chief Supply Chain Officer at The Clorox Company, to explore how supply chains are evolving from execution engines into intelligent decision-making systems.Rick shares lessons from leading through COVID demand shocks, hyperinflation, and major cyber disruptions while managing one of the world’s most critical consumer supply chains. We also dive into AI, digital transformation, operational resilience, leadership under pressure, and why the future belongs to organizations where talent and technology evolve together. AI and supply chain transformationCrisis leadership lessonsTalent vs. technologyDigital transformation failuresThe future of intelligent operationsSubscribe to The Momentum Flow for conversations shaping the future of leadership, operations, and innovation.

What if the future of business leadership… doesn’t come from the boardroom—but from supply chain?In this episode of The Momentum Flow, Luis sits down with Vineet Khanna, former Global Head of Supply Chain at Nestlé, to unpack how leadership, technology, and strategy are converging to reshape global business.With nearly 4 decades of experience leading complex global operations, Vineet brings a rare perspective across transformation, AI, and enterprise leadership. In this conversation, we break down: The 4 flows that run every business (and why most leaders miss them)  Why supply chain is becoming a co-pilot to the CEO The difference between real AI impact vs. hype How to lead transformation that actually delivers results  A new definition of sustainability: can your business still run in 20 years?The big idea?Supply chain isn’t just operations anymore. It’s becoming the center of decision-making, resilience, and growth.If you’re a founder, operator, or investor, this episode will change how you see business.Subscribe for more insights on leadership, innovation, and exponential growth.

What does it really take to scale a business across generations… and still stay ahead of massive industry change?In this episode of The Momentum Flow, I sit down with Sid Brown, CEO of NFI, one of North America’s largest family-owned logistics companies.From a trucking company founded in 1932 to a fully integrated supply chain platform, NFI’s story is about more than growth; it’s about discipline, culture, and making the right bets early.In this conversation, we break down: • The simple framework Sid uses to evaluate acquisitions • How to scale through M&A without losing culture • Why most integrations fail (and how to get them right) • NFI’s early bets on robotics, electrification, and innovation • The real risks shaping freight today — from fraud to cybersecurity • What the next 10–15 years of logistics and mobility will look likeIf you’re an operator, investor, or leader building for the long term, this episode is packed with real insight you can actually use.Tune in now!

In this episode of The Momentum Flow, I sit down with Walter “Wally” Massenburg — President & CEO of LeadByEx, Inc., and Vice Admiral (Ret.) US Navy, NAVAIR — to explore a shift that I think more leaders need to be paying attention to.For decades, organizations have optimized around efficiency, cost, and scale. But what happens when systems are actually tested? When timelines compress, conditions change, and performance is no longer optional?Wally brings a perspective shaped by leading at the highest levels of Naval Aviation and defense logistics, where readiness isn’t a concept — it’s a requirement. In those environments, logistics is not a support function. It is a mission capability that directly determines outcomes.What stood out to me in this conversation is how relevant that mindset has become for today’s business environment. As volatility increases and complexity grows, the gap between organizations built for efficiency and those built for resilience is becoming more visible.We talk about what it means to build for readiness, how leaders should think about decision-making under pressure, and why the cost of inaction is rising faster than most realize.If you’re building, investing, or leading in today’s environment, this is a conversation worth your time.

Momentum in Motion – Five Leadership Lessons from the First Conversations The Momentum Flow | Special Reflection Episode (Spanish)In this special solo reflection episode, I take a step back from the conversations that have shaped The Momentum Flow so far—and share what I’ve been noticing.After sitting down with leaders like Luis Eraña, Tim Scott, Laura Juliano, Jorge Titinger, Gustavo Ghory, Chris Styles, and Bob Stewart, a pattern started to emerge. Different industries. Different journeys. But the same underlying questions about how leadership is evolving in a world being reshaped by technology, AI, and global disruption.I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.What does it actually take to lead when systems are changing faster than organizations can adapt?In this episode, I break down five leadership lessons that are becoming increasingly clear:– Why the most effective leaders are thinking in systems, not functions – How technology is moving faster than traditional leadership models – Why efficiency alone is no longer enough – The growing importance of talent as a strategic differentiator – And why perspective may be the ultimate leadership advantageThis isn’t just about supply chains. It’s about how leadership itself is being redefined in real time.If you're building, investing, or leading through complexity, this episode will give you a framework to think differently about where momentum actually comes from—and how to create it.Because momentum isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you build.🎧 Tune in and keep The Momentum Flow going.

Momentum in Motion – Five Leadership Lessons from the First Conversations The Momentum Flow | Special Reflection Episode (English)In this special solo reflection episode, I take a step back from the conversations that have shaped The Momentum Flow so far—and share what I’ve been noticing.After sitting down with leaders like Luis Eraña, Tim Scott, Laura Juliano, Jorge Titinger, Gustavo Ghory, Chris Styles, and Bob Stewart, a pattern started to emerge. Different industries. Different journeys. But the same underlying questions about how leadership is evolving in a world being reshaped by technology, AI, and global disruption.I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.What does it actually take to lead when systems are changing faster than organizations can adapt?In this episode, I break down five leadership lessons that are becoming increasingly clear:– Why the most effective leaders are thinking in systems, not functions – How technology is moving faster than traditional leadership models – Why efficiency alone is no longer enough – The growing importance of talent as a strategic differentiator – And why perspective may be the ultimate leadership advantageThis isn’t just about supply chains. It’s about how leadership itself is being redefined in real time.If you're building, investing, or leading through complexity, this episode will give you a framework to think differently about where momentum actually comes from—and how to create it.Because momentum isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you build.🎧 Tune in and keep The Momentum Flow going.

In this episode of The Momentum Flow, I sit down with Luis Eraña, CEO of Alba Group, to explore how logistics leadership is evolving in a technology-driven, capital-disciplined world.Supply chain, at its core, is simple: product moves from point A to point B, and money flows back. But in between, something far more powerful happens — information, data, performance visibility, and service.We break down:The real difference between global integrators and entrepreneurial logistics firmsHow private equity reshapes operational discipline and EBITDA focusWhy service is the ultimate competitive advantageWhere AI and digitalization are creating structural shifts in customs brokerageThe role of performance management in building long-term enterprise valueHow modern CEOs balance technology investment with margin disciplineThis conversation is built for senior operators, board members, investors, and supply chain leaders navigating volatility, global trade complexity, and digital transformation.Subscribe to The Momentum Flow for bi-weekly conversations on leadership, innovation, supply chain strategy, and investment thinking.

On this episode of The Momentum Flow, I sit down with Tim Scott, former Naval Officer, former Chief Supply Chain Officer at Grocery Outlet, and now Advisor at True North Supply Chain Advisory LLC.This conversation is about what it really takes to build retail supply chains that win under pressure.We cover:• Leadership when conditions are imperfect• The difference between end-to-end strategy and logistics-deep execution• How big enterprises think vs. regional and PE-backed retailers• What automation actually delivers ROI — and what’s just noise• Why most tech transformations fail in blueprinting and change managementTim has led transformations across $5B–$30B enterprises and delivered over $80M in cost savings — but what stood out most in this episode wasn’t the numbers.It was the discipline.The clarity.The willingness to pull your best operators into transformation work — even when it hurts short-term performance.If you’re a CSCO, COO, board member, investor, or founder building in logistics-heavy industries, this is a practical conversation grounded in real operating pressure — not theory.Subscribe to The Momentum Flow #SupplyChain #RetailOperations #Logistics #Leadership #DigitalTransformation #PrivateEquity #TheMomentumFlow

Welcome to The Momentum Flow, where ideas, innovation, and experience create a continuous stream of insight.In this episode, I sit down with Laura Julian, Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group and leader of BCG’s North America Operations Practice.With over two decades advising more than 1,400 industrial and global OEMs across automotive, aerospace & defense, agriculture, and beyond, Laura shares what truly separates successful transformations from incremental change. From leadership conviction and prioritization to AI-enabled operations, workforce evolution, and resilient supply chains, this conversation goes deep into what actually creates momentum. Subscribe now to get it first and keep the momentum flow going.

Welcome back to The Momentum Flow, where ideas, innovation, and leadership drive real-world impact.In this episode, I sat down with Chris Styles, who leads supply chain operations across the Americas at Nissan.With over 30 years of experience across logistics, procurement, vehicle distribution, and global operations, Chris offers a rare, operator-level view into how one of the world’s largest automotive OEMs navigates volatility, disruption, and transformation at scale.This conversation goes beyond theory to explore:How automotive supply chains are evolving in an era of constant volatilityWhere AI is delivering real operational value todayHow OEM–supplier relationships are shifting from transactional to strategicThe tradeoffs behind inventory, resilience, cost, and serviceWhat modern supply chain leadership really looks like, and how it’s changed over the last 20+ yearsWhether you’re an operator, executive, investor, or supply chain leader, this episode delivers practical insight into what it takes to keep complex systems moving — even when conditions are unpredictable.🎧 Subscribe now and tune in!

In this episode of The Momentum Flow, I sit down with Jorge Titinger, a global CEO, board director, and former semiconductor operator who has led organizations through growth cycles, downturns, and complex transformations.Jorge shares why culture is an operating system at its roots. Drawing from elite sports, global supply chains, and the boardroom, he explains how trust, clear decision rights, and aligned teams create speed, resilience, and real competitive advantage. From navigating volatility and boom-bust cycles to embedding AI as augmented intelligence, this conversation is a masterclass in leading under pressure without losing momentum.If you’re building high-performance teams, scaling operations, or leading through uncertainty, this episode will challenge how you think about execution, culture, and leadership.Subscribe today!

In this episode of The Momentum Flow, I sit down with Gustavo López Ghory, former Chief Supply Chain Officer at Kimberly-Clark, longtime global manufacturing leader at Procter & Gamble, and co-founder & Chairman of Swiss tech startup SmarterChains.With more than ~35 years leading some of the world’s most complex production networks, Gustavo has seen every wave of “transformation” in manufacturing, and he’s honest about what actually creates value versus what’s just buzz.We dive into:- The four pillars of Gustavo’s leadership philosophy: people, technical mastery, business mastery, and authenticity.- Where digital twins, robotics, and AI are truly delivering ROI, and where companies are stuck in pilot paralysis.- Why most factories are quietly carrying ~30% hidden waste, and how operational value intelligence exposes it.- How SmarterChains is helping manufacturers unlock trapped value and move toward the “Factory of the Future.”- The evolving role of the human operator in an AI-augmented world.- Practical advice for operators, founders, and investors in smart manufacturing.If you’re building, running, or investing in industrial operations, this conversation will challenge how you think about technology, culture, and value creation on the shop floor.

Guest: Bob Stewart, Former Chief Supply Chain Officer, McDonald’s & U.S. Navy Reserve VeteranIn this Veterans Day special, host Luis Solana sits down with Bob Stewart, a 40-year supply chain leader who spent over three decades at McDonald’s, including as Chief Supply Chain Officer for North America, overseeing $14B in operations across 100+ countries.They dive deep into how military discipline and corporate leadership intersect, from mission readiness in the Navy to operational excellence at McDonald’s. Bob shares lessons on leading under pressure, building trust at scale, and how clarity, accountability, and collaboration drive transformation.The conversation also explores the future of supply chains, from automation and digitization to innovation through startup partnerships, and how veterans bring unique value to modern business leadership.Tune in to hear how service, strategy, and innovation converge to keep the momentum flowing.

Welcome to The Momentum Flow, where ideas, innovation, and impact move together.This podcast is a continuous stream of insight, connecting industries, cultures, and people, driving progress forward.I’m Luis Solana, global executive, investor, and supply chain strategist. I’ve spent my career building and transforming businesses across continents, helping companies scale through operational excellence and technology-enabled innovation.Now, I’m sitting down with visionaries reimagining how the world moves, from founders and investors to industry leaders shaping the future of supply chains and beyond.Together, we’ll uncover how to spot, spark, and scale ideas that create lasting value.Subscribe today and stay tuned for the first episode on Tuesday, Nov 11Tune in and let’s keep the momentum flow going.